B’nai Mitzvah

Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Or Ami An Emotional Journey

As a family, you will experience one of the most significant, highly spiritual Jewish adventures of your lifetime as your son or daughter becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. This is a highly emotional journey and may be filled with some anxiety, but mostly joy. At Or Ami, our rabbis, cantor, B’nai Mitzvah teacher and the entire staff relish our time together with you as we create a joyous and uplifting simcha experience.

Fill out our Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Information Form (as soon as your child begins working with Diane Townsend).

Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies present a wonderful opportunity for Jewish families to celebrate the emergence into adolescence of a daughter or son. This Jewish tradition emphasizes learning, prayer, and public competence as demonstrations of maturity.

Of course, preparation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies takes hard work, sacrifice, and commitment. However, the completion of a successful Bar/Bat Mitzvah process affirms the self-esteem of an emerging adolescent Jew and his or her family. We are here to help you along the path.

  • 12 Months Before: Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation commences with a 12 week Pre-B’nai Mitzvah Prayer class with Diane Townsend, our B’nai Mitzvah teacher. Fill out our Bar/Bat Mitzvah Family Information Form now.
  • 7 Months Before: Individual weekly meetings meet weekly with Diane Townsend, our B’nai Mitzvah teacher.
  • 3 1/2 Months Before: Family meeting – parent(s) and the Bar/Bat Mitzvah student – with either Rabbi Paul Kipnes or Rabbi Julia Weisz to talk about the whole weekend, to decide honors for aliyot blessings, and to help alleviate any growing anxiety.
  • 3 Months Before: Speech Writing meetings – meet individually for five to six weeks with either Rabbi Paul Kipnes or Rabbi Julia Weisz to develop the rabbi-student relationship, to study the Torah portion, and to prepare the D’var Torah (speech).
  • 2 Weeks Before: Cantor Doug Cotler rehearses every student to offer helpful advice even as he helps reduce the level of anxiety.

With personalized attention, the rabbis, cantor and Bar/Bat Mitzvah teacher of Congregation Or Ami are ready to assist all families of the congregation to maximize their Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies as authentic and meaningful religious experiences.

To schedule a Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, please call Rabbi Kipnes’ Assistant Icela Alcala (or call 818-880-4880).

For the Family

Mazel Tov! Congregation Or Ami would like to make your life easier upon this important and joyous event in your child’s life.

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